Improvement in pyxes



M. M. A. HARTNEDY. Pyx.

'No. 218,262. Patented Aug. 5,1879.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: 6% .g M

M m' BY TORNEYS- NJE 'ERS, PHOTO-LH'HQQRAPMER. WASHINGTON, D c

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN M. A. HARTNEDY, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN PYXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,262, dated August 5, 1879; application filed June 30, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVIARTIN M. A. HART- NEDY, of Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Pyx, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of the pyx or small vessel employed by the Roman Catholic clergy in carrying the host or holy-communion wafer to the sick.

Heretofore these have been made square or round, like the case of a watch or locket; but these forms have many disadvantages, and are therefore objectionable. In the first place the wafer is of such a size that when placed in a common box it shakes about and is apt to be broken; secondly, in the ordinary box it is always difficult to take the wafer out with the fingers, and it is apt to become broken in doing so.

The object of my invention is to provide a pyx that will be free from these objections.

It consists of a circular plate provided with a circular cavity for receiving the wafer, and opening into another cavity, into which the finger is inserted, so as to enable the wafer to be taken out between the thumb and forefinger.

It further consists of a hinged cover for the pyx, adapted to fit closely over the cavity, and thus prevent the wafer from shaking about, the said cover being held closed by a springcatch.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurelrepresents the pyx closed. Fig. 2 represents it open, exposing the cavities; and Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. l on line :0 a2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A is a circular plate, having a raised rim, a. In the center is a circular cavity, B, with a flat bottom. Adjoining this is another cavity, 0, the outline forming the segment of a circle, and joining the outline of cavity B, while the bottom is concave, and extends slightly into the fiat bottom of cavity B. A continuous bead, 12, runs around the edge of the two cavities, said head being raised from the surface of the plate.

1) is the cover; it is a fiat circular plate, adapted to fit within the rim a, and lie on the surface of the plate A, and form a flush connection with the rim a. In the under surface of this cover is made a groove, 0, bystriking up the metal, (forming thus a bead on the upper side,) or in any other suitable way. This groove is of the same shape precisely as the head I), and occupies the same relative position precisely, so that when the cover is closed down the groove fits over the bead and forms aclose connection therewith, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cover is connected with the rim a on one side by a hinge, d. Opposite the hinge a short semi-cylindrical projection, e, is attached to its edge, and through this projection is made a slot. When the cover is closed this projection lies over the barrel f, forming the pendant. In the center of the barrel is a needle, g, projecting from its inner end.

E is the crown, fitted over the end of the pendant, and having a central tube, h, in which is seated a spiral spring. The needle g enters the tube and bears against the spring, and from the end of tube h a catch, t, projects upward through a slot in the barrel. under side of the pendant hangs a ring, F.

When the cover is closed down, the crown E is pushed in with the finger. This throws the catch back, so that projection e fits down flat on the barrel, the catch passing through the slot. The crown, being released from pressure, is thrown out by the spring, and the projecting part of the catch, fitting over the projection 0 at the end of the slot, fastens it down, and thus locks the cover. On the cover, opposite the hinged edge, are two bosses, l l, against which the fingers are pressed to assist in opening the cover.

The wafers are placed in the central cavity, B, as indicated by the dotted lines, which is just large enough to receive them snugly and prevent them from shaking about. When they are to be removed, the cover is lifted, the forefinger inserted in the cavity 0 and pressed under them, and they are caught between the forefinger and thumb and lifted out without trouble. Thus a receptacle for the wafers is formed which is much more convenient than those now 111 use, and possesses other advan- From the rim, and having the groove con its under side, in combination with the plate A, having raised rim (1, cavities B U, and head I), surrounding the said cavities, so as to fit in the groove aim the cover, and thus form a close joint therewith, whereby the wafers are held closely, prevented from shaking about, and particles are prevented from being lost, substantially as described.

MARTIN M. A. HARTNEDY. Witnesses:

W. V. B. UROSKEY, W. A. ()WESNEY. 

